IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P.SANDESH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1254/2018 C/W CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.988/2018 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1114/2018 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1153/2018 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1154/2018 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1254/2018:

BETWEEN:

SMT. SUKANYA, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, RESIDING AT NELASANIPALLI, KELAGHATTLA POST, GANGAVARA MANDALA, PALAMNER TALUK, CHITTOR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH STATE. … APPELLANT (BY SRI. K.S.NARESH SANTHOSH, ADVOCATE - THROUGH V.C.)

AND:

STATE BY RAMANAGARA RURAL POLICE, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY THE LEARNED STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001. … RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 374(2)

OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SENTENCE DATED 28.05.2018, PASSED BY THE III ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, RAMANAGARA, IN S.C.NO.68/2015, CONVICTING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED NO.7 FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 120B OF IPC.

IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.988/2018:

BETWEEN:

SRI. MANIRAJ @ MANI, S/O ANJANEYALU, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, RESIDING AT N